The Witcher Season 4 marks the fourth and final season of the popular Netflix series based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s massively successful video game franchise. The show has gained a cult following thanks to its intense action, diverse cast of characters, and dark and mysterious world. But it’s also been plagued with a lack of consistency and an inability to fully capture the tone of the book series. And while the latest season continues The Witcher’s tradition of being a serviceable fantasy adventure with solid action and compelling performances, it also feels like the most uneven season to date.
One of the biggest challenges The Witcher faced this year was the recasting of Geralt. It would have been easy for the show to ignore the change altogether, but instead it chose to incorporate a framing device that addresses the issue head on. The season opens around 100 years in the future with an older Stribog reading the stories of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri to a group of enraptured kids. This reframes the events of the past few seasons, making it clear that this version of the Witcher isn’t the same as the original.
This is a smart way to approach the recasting, as it doesn’t make the switch feel completely unnecessary or minimize it with humor. The Witcher could have easily gone with a more convoluted explanation, but instead it simply allows Hemsworth to carry on as Geralt without making the switch feel forced or undercutting the legacy of the character.
There are still plenty of things to enjoy about this new season of The Witcher, including the solid performances by Hemsworth and the rest of the cast. The story is darker and more streamlined than previous episodes, but it’s still exciting to watch as Geralt battles monsters, goes on quests, and forms new alliances in the Continent. The show’s visual effects continue to be top-notch, but the dialogue and acting occasionally feel stilted and detached from Sapkowski’s strange and fantastical world.
The biggest problem with this season is that it doesn’t quite deliver on the expectations of fans who were drawn in by Cavill’s version of the character. Many have complained that the new actor isn’t able to fully recreate the magic of the first season, with some even saying it might not be possible to do so unless Hemsworth can get his own oversized rubber axe in the mix.
The Witcher Season 4 is an entertaining fantasy adventure with compelling characters and plenty of action. However, it’s the most inconsistent and uneven season to date, with moments of praise alternating with monumental blunders. Hopefully, the show can return to its more consistent form in season 5.